Piano action



May 5, 1953 P. F. MURDocK PIANo- Amon May 5, 1953 P. F. MuRDocK2,637,238

PIANO ACTION Filed Jan. 17, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented May 5, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIAN O ACTION Paul F. Murdock, Clinton,Conn., assignor toV lratt Read & Co., Inc., Ivoryton, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application Sanitary 17, 1951, Serial No.206,445 1n Great Britain February 7, 1950 8 Claims. (Cl. Sei-240) Thisinvention relates generally to piano aotions and more particularly to animproved pivotal connection for joining the various members of a pianoaction.

In the design of piano actions, it is necessary to provide a pluralityof relatively movable members which are arranged so that very fast andsmooth operation can be provided. Further, it is desired that the movingparts be so constructpivoted membersare held together by fiat springs topermit easy assembly and disassembly thereof and to also compensate forWear of the members of the action.

Further objects and features, and the attending advantages of theinvention will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

ed that no noise is produced by operation there- 10 Fis. 1 shows a cianoaction 1n accordance v vltii of. In the prior art, piano actions havebeen the invention in the normal'unoperated position, made largely ofWood With the surfaces which Figs. 2 to 5 are cross sectional viewsalong the contact each other being covered by felt or other indicatedSectlolfl 11H65 of Fla. l lllustraljllg the resilient material whicheliminates any noise. CDIlSluCGOIl 0f Various Parts Of the rd lOIl- Thevarious elements of the action have been 15 Fig. 6 illustrates amodiiiedaction 1n accordconnected together by pivots formed by metal ance withthe 1I1V1110I1 arid pins which nt in felt bushings. Springs are re-Fiss. 7 to 9 are cross sectional views along the quired in someinstances to restore the members indicated Section lines of F1a.Giurther illustrat- 50 1Shell normal position after having been opingthe construction of the mooied iorm of the erated. These actions havebeen objectionable 20 HVGHOH. h

in that the construction is inherently expensive In practicing theinvention there 1S DI'OVlded a and great care must be exercised in 'theadjust- Dian() aotlon 1n Whlch the various members oi ment thereof. Theoperation of such actions is the 210551011 Such asthe Whlplen. ily JaCkand greatly affected by moisture, and is not as fast moulllg alge aremade 0f plsl 01 metal as is desired. 25 material. These various membersare pivoted In the copending patent application of Louis Messant, SerialNo. 82,757, filed March 22, 1949, now Patent No. 2,571,155, there isdisclosed and claimed a piano action in which the members are pivoted byknife edge connections with the inembers being held in assembledrelation by members made of resilient material. This application isdirected to improvements made in the piano action as disclosed in theMessant application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pianoaction in which the meinbers are pivotally mounted for exceedingly fastoperation.

A further object is to provide a piano action .1

which is adaptable for construction from plastic and metal materials andwhich is not subject to changing characteristics due to differenthumidity conditions.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a piano action in whichmembers are pivotally A together for normal piano operation by jointsformed by a sharp edge on one member and a V-groove in the associatedmember. Such pivotally connected members are held together by resilientelements which cause the edges to bear against the associated grooves.The resilient elements may be made of metal, plastic or other suitablematerial. The pivotal connection may be provided by shaping one oi themembers so that it may extend through an opening in the other memberwith the resilient element being interposed between interlockingportions of the members. The associated edges and grooves are sopositioned that movement of the members in the normal operation of theaction causes the edges to bear against the grooves so that the memberswill not tend to be forced open by the operation.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, there is illustrated one structuralembodiment of the invention in which the pivotal connections inaccordance with the invention are applied to the Whippen, ny jack,hammer and damper. The Whippen 68 is secured to the rail 5| by a flangeS2 with the Whippen and ange being held together by a spring 63. Thesame spring 63 holdes the jack G4 in assembled relation With respect tothe whippen The spring 83 is illustrated as a metal niember but it is tobe noted that any material having the desired resiliency characteristicsmay be used.

The whippen 60 has recesses therein to receive portions of the ange 62and the jack 64. A channel is provided in the whippen having a surface'II on which the spring 63 rests. A pin l2 is provided for holding theend of the spring adjacent the jack against the surface '|I. The pivotalconnection between the jack 64 and the whippen 6G is provided by theportions 65 on the sides of the jack having sharp edges which engagetl-grooves 66 in the whippen. The jack also has a reduced portion withan edge 61, opposed to the edges 65, which engages the spring 63 so thatthe edges 65 are held in the grooves 56 by the spring. Y

The flange 62 extends all the way through the whippen 66 as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 5. The flange 62 has projections 68 on the sides thereofwith sharp edges which rest in V-grooves 69 on the whippen. An opposededge 10 on the iiange 62 engages the spring 63. It will be noted thatthe pivotal connection between the whippen and the flange is such thatas the whippen is raised by movement of the abstract I4, the pressureexerted will cause the V-groove 69 of the whippen to bear against theedges 68 so that the pivotal connection is forced more closely together.This causes no strain on the spring 63 so that the spring is requiredonly for holding the members in position and not for bearing lthe forceexerted therebetween. This relationship is also true of the engagementbetween the jack 64 and the whippen 66 as movement of the whippen willcause the grooves 6B to bear against the sharp edges 65 and will not exthe spring 63.

As stated above, the hammer 'l5 .and the damper 'I6 are also connectedto the rail 6| by knife edge pivotal connections. A single flange 'Ilcooperates with both the hammer 15 and the damper 'I6 to provide theconnections. The flange Ti is'secured to the rail 6| as by the screw 'I8and includes recesses 19 and 80 for receiving portions of the hammer anddamper respectively. The hammer has projections `8| on the sides thereofwith sharp edges which bear in V-grooves 32 in the flange TI. The hammeralso has an opposed centrally positioned edge 83 which engages thespring 86. This connection is shown more in detail in Fig. 4.

The connection of the damper 'I6 and the ange TITI is substantially thesame as that of the hammer 'I5 and the ange. The damper includesprojecting portions 85 on the sides thereof having sharp edges whichengage grooves 86 in the fiange. The damper also has an opening with anopposed edge 81 which bears against the spring 8d.

in the operation of theaction the abstract I i is moved by key I3 andcauses the whippen 6:3 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction so thatthe jack 64 bears against the knuckle 88 on the hammer l causing thehammer to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. This movement willcause the edges 8| on the hammer to bear sharply against the grooves 82on the iiange Ti so that the forcevproduced is exerted directly betweenthese members and does not cause the spring 84 to be flexed. The hammeris restored to the normal position by a spring 89 in the usual way.

As the whippen and jack move in a counterclockwise direction theprojection 93 on the jack engages the let-off 94 so that the end of thejack is pulled away from the knuckle -93 and the hammer may move freely.A projection S5 with the string 9|.

is provided on the hammer 15 which engages the backcheck S6 secured tothe whippen 6I] to prevent undesired movement of the hammer after thehead of the hammer strikes the string 9|. Movement of the whippen istransmitted through the spoon 9U to the lower end of the damper so thatthe damper is removed from engagement The damper is returned to positionin engagement with the string by spring 92.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, these figures show the use ofmetal flanges shaped to form one part of the knife edge pivotalconnection. The action is of generally the same configuration as in thepreceding iigures and includes a fixed rail Hill, an abstract Illi,whippen |62, jack |63, hammer' |64 and damper |65. The whippen |62 issecured to the fixed rail i6@ by the fiange |526 which is shown more indetail in Fig. 9. The ange is secured at one end to the rail |66 as by ascrew |61 and the 'other end is positioned in an opening in the whippen|62. The latter end of the ange has projecting shoulder portions |28which bear in V-grooves |69 on the sides of the whippen.V An opening IIBis provided in this end of the flange having an edge against which thespring ||2 bears. A pivotal connection is thereby provided between theedges Illa and the grooves |09, with the flange and whippen being heldin assembled relation by engagement between the spring I I2 and the edgeIII of the flange. The spring I|2 is held on a surface i I3 provided bya recess in the whippen |82 and is held in position on the surface by apin H4 in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 1.

The jack |63 is pivotally connected to the whip by a metal iiange orclip ||5 which is secured to the jack as by screws ||6 (Fig. 8). One endof the flange includes shoulders Ill on either side of a reducedportion. The reduced portion extends in a recess in the whippen |02 andthe shoulders bear in grooves IIS in the portions on the sides of therecess. The iiange has an opening I I9 with a surface IZB which bearsagainst the spring H2.

The hammer |06 and damper IE5 are secured to the rail |06 by a singleflange I 2| which is secured to the xed rail by a screw |22 (Figs. 6 and7). The flange |2| extends at one end into a recess in the butt of thehammer |04. This end has a reduced portion and shoulders |26 at eachside thereof which engage V-shaped grooves IZA in the sides of thehammer I 04. The reduced portion has an opening |25 therein with an edge|26 which engages the spring |27. The spring |27 is provided in a slotin the hammer butt and is held in position by a pin |28. The other endof the ange |22 also includes a reduced portion which extends in arecess in the damper and shoulders |30 which bear against V-grooves I3!in the portions of the damper at the sides of the recess. This reducedportion includes an opening |32 having a surface |33 which engages aspring |34. The spring |34 is positioned in an opening in the damper |05as is best shown in Fig. 6.

Both the hammer and damper may be held vin their normal position bysprings secured to the ange |2| as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The spring|35 returns the hammer to the position shown after it has been rotatedcounterclockwise into a position in engagement with the string.Similarly a spring |36 is provided for causing the-damper |05 to engagethe string when the-Whippen is returned to v,the normal position asillustrated.

From the above, itis apparent't-hati the pivotal connection. inaccordance with the invention provides a simple, inexpensive and highlydesirable piano action. The various structures disclosed can be molded'from. plastic material or can be punched out of sheet metal. The cost ofthe molded p uasticy members and' the punchedV out metalrnembers will bea small fraction of that vof' typical wood actions having the usual pinand bushing joints. A further saving in` cost results from thesimplicity of assembly and the noncritical adjustment oi the action.Actions constructed in accordance with the invention are very easy tooperate and operate very fast, providing Whatisbelieved to be thefastest repeating action ever constructed. Maintenance of the action isreduced both because oi the ease oi assembly and disassembly thereof andbecause the spring members tend to compensate for Wear of the parts sothat substantial maintenance is not required. The construction of thepivotal connections so that the springs are not flexed during the usualoperation of the parts results in long life of the springs.

V/'hile certain embodiments of the invention have been described whichare illustrative thereoi, it is obvious that various changes andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the intendedscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l.. In a piano action, a flange secured to a fixed rail, a whippen and aiiy jack, said flange and said iiy jack being pivotall;T interconnectedwith said Whippen each including a reduced part with an aperture thereinand portions With sharp edges projecting on the sides of said reducedpart, said Whippen having a pair of openings therein adapted to receivesaid reduced parts of said flange and said 1:157 jack and portions onthe sides of said openings having grooves therein for receiving saidsharp edges, said sharp edges on said fly jack engaging said Whippen onone side thereof and said sharp edges on said flange engaging saidWhippen on the side opposite to said one side, and a spring memberengaging said Whippen having ends extending in said apertures in saidfiange and said fly jack for holding said sharp edges in said grooves.

2. In a piano action, a flange secured to a hired rail, a Whippen and aiiy jack, said frange and said liv jack. being pivotally interconnectedwith said Whippen and each including a reduced part With an aperturetherein and portions with sharp edges projecting on the sides or saidreduced part, said Whippen having a pair of openings therein adapted toreceive said reduced parts of said ange and said fly jack and portionson the sides oi said openings having grooves therein for receiving saidsharp edges, said sharp edges on said iiy jack engaging said Whippen onone side thereof, said `flange extending through said Whippen with thesharp edges thereof engaging said whippen on the side opposite to saidone side, and a spring member engaging said Whippen having endsextending in said apertures in said flange and said iiy jack for holdingsaid sharp edges in said grooves.

3. In a piano action, first and second members pivctally interconnectedwith a third member, said rst and second members each including areduced part with an aperture therein and portions with sharp edgesextending on the sides l of`4 said; reduced part, said. third-memberhaving a pair of openings therein adapted to receive said reduced partsof Said rst and second memand having portions on the sides of saidopenings with grooves therein for receiving said sharp edges, said sharpedges on said irst member engaging said third member on one side thereofand said sharp edges on said second member engaging said third member onthe side opposite to` said one side, and a spring member engaging saidthird member having ends extending in said apertures in said iirst andsecond members for holding said sharp edges in said grooves.

in a piano action, a first xed member, a second member pivotallyinterconnected with hrst member, a third member pivotally interconnectedto said second member, said rst and third members each including areduced part. with an aperture therein and portions with sharp edgesprojecting on the sides of said reduced part, said second member haringa pair of openings therein adapted to receive said reduced parts of saidnrst and third members and portions on the sides of said openings havinggrooves therein for receiving said sharp edges, said sharp edges on saidthird member engaging said second member on one side thereof, said iirstmember extending through said second member with said sharp edgesthereof engaging said second member on the side thereof opposite to saidone side, a resilient member engaging said second member having endsextending in said apertures in 'rst and third members for holding saidsharp edges in said grooves, and means for ino'- 'og said second memberin a manner such that .i sharp edges of said first member and said sharpedges of said third member are urged tov/ard said grooves in said secondmember.

5. In a piano action, first and second members pivotally interconnected,said first member being ined and said second member being movable duringoperation or" said action, said rst member including a reduced part withan aperture therein and a portion having a sharp edge on at least oneside of said reduced part, said second member having an opening thereinadapted to receive said reduced part of said iirst member and a grooveon at least one side of said opening for receiving said sharp edge, anda spring member engaging said second member and extending in saidaperture in said first member for holding said sharp edge in saidgroove, said sharp edge and said groove being so positioned thatmovement of said second member during operation of said action causessaid groove of said second member to be urged toward said sharp edge ofsaid iirst member.

6. in a piano action, a iirst member, a second n pivotalh1 connected tosaid rst member, first member having an opening therein and grooves. onthe portions on each side of said opensaio'. second member being formedof sheet metal and including a reduced portion with projections havingsharp edges extending therefrom., said reduced portion being positionedin said opening with said projections positioned in grooves, reducedportion having an aperture therein with a sharp edge oppositely disposedto and substantially aligned with said sharp edges oi projections, and aspring member engaging said iirst member and said sharp edge of saidaperture for holding said first and second members in assembledrelation.

7. In a piano action, a rst member, a second "member pivotally connectedto said rst member, said rst member being molded of plastic material andhaving an opening therein and grooves on the portions on each side ofsaid openfing, said second member being formed of sheet metal andincluding a reduced portion with projections having sharp edgesextending therefrom, said reduced portion being positioned in saidopening with said projections lpositioned in said grooves, said reducedportion having an aperture therein with a sharp edge oppositely disposedto and substantially aligned Withsaid sharp edges of said projections,and a resilient flat metal member engaging said rst member and saidsharp edge of said aperture for holding said iirst and second members inassembled relation.

6. n a piano action, a rst member, a second member pivotaily connectedto said iirst member, said rst member being molded of plastic materialand having an opening therein and grooves 20 8 on the portions on eachside of said opening, said second member being formed of sheet metal andincluding a reduced portion with projections having sharp edgesextending therefrom, said reduced portion being positioned in saidopening with said projections positioned in said grooves, said reducedportion having an aperture therein with a sharp edge oppositely disposedto and substantially aligned With said sharp edges of said projections,and a spring member engaging said first member and said sharp edge ofsaid aperture for holding said rst and second members in assembledrelation.

PAUL F. MURDOCK.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

